CTA, IA, NRF, NEMA Among Those Concerned on Tariffs, Day 2 of USTR Hearing Told

on the second day of hearings (see 1805150074) before the U.S. Trade Representative’s office on proposed 25 percent tariffs. Some members, "including innovative startups," fear this would "put them at a disadvantage relative to their competitors in other nations," she said. Prices will rise an average of 23 percent on TVs and other consumer products if the proposed tariffs for Chinese intellectual property issues are imposed, said David French, National Retail Federation senior vice president-government affairs, in written testimony Wednesday. The Internet Association appreciates the administration “is trying to address” the “trade barriers” that block U.S. internet services from penetrating China, depriving them of “billions of dollars in potential business,” testified Jordan Haas, director-trade and international policy, Wednesday. “Tariffs, however, are the wrong solution.” Internet companies “understand that tariffs are hidden, regressive taxes that will be paid by the U.S. consumer in the form of higher product prices and by hurting companies’ ability to invest in future technology,” he said. Many of the products on the proposed tariff list are consumer goods, including TVs, and tariffs on them would be “problematic for internet companies,” so they should be removed, said Haas. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association agrees the levies "will not help support and could materially injure the global competitiveness of our industries," said Kyle Pitsor, vice president-government relations, in written testimony Wednesday.